First Nations, First Peoples
Most of these titles were created by aboriginal writers, illustrators or publishing houses. |
The nation of the author is listed if this was listed in the book or in reviews. While material from all across Canada is included, there is an emphasis on Pacific Northwest Coast information.
Due to limited space we are only able to list book resources but there are many excellent audio visual sources as well, such as the video series First Nations, The Circle Unbroken. This is a series of thirteen programs each about twenty minutes long about current issues, cultural identity and relations between First Nations people and the Canadian government. This series was produced by the National Film board and Face to Face Media.
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Goodtrack, Kim Soo (Wichapi wi) An ABC book which shows traditional values accompanied by contemporary concepts from B for Sweetgrass Braid to U for Universe. |
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Goodtrack, Kim Soo A book that communicates the common spiritual bonds, ethics and values between Native Americans. |
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Ballantyne, Evelyn Designed to assist children in identifying letters of the alphabet. |
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Indian and Northern Affairs Canada A book list of children's literature about aboriginal peoples. Text is in English and French. |
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Introduced by Maria Campbell (Cree) In Cree, stories are called "achimoona". These short stories written by contemporary youth are introduced by Maria Campbell. |
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Kusugak, Michael Arvaaluk (Inuit). Ill. by Vladyana Krykorka Ten-year-old Agatha saves a priest who skates on thin ice, saves her community from a strange flying object, and meets some interesting birds in these three entertaining stories set in 1958. |
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Loyie, Oskiniko Larry A last summer before residential school. In 1944, Larry Loyie, who was then known as Lawrence, was ten years old and living with his family near Slave Lake in Northern Alberta. An epilogue describes the fate of children taken from their families and put in residential schools. |
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Kusugak, Michael Arvaaluk (Inuit). Ill. by Vladyana Krykorka During the Christmas of 1955 the children of Repulse Bay turn a gift of Christmas trees into baseball bats. One of the many excellent collaborations between Kusugak and artist Vladyana Krykorka. |
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Keeshig-Tobias, Lenore (Ojibwa). Ill. by Polly Keeshig-Tobias Polly's family surrounds her with comfort and love when she is teased by children at school because she is an "Indian." |
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Erdich, Louise (Ojibwa) Exceptional. Winner of countless awards. Every year Omakayas and her family build a new birchbank house. This is set in 1847, the year smallpox visited their island. This multi-layered story is filled with family love, tragic loss, and fascinating details. |
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Adams, Dawn A Queen Charlotte Islands reader. The birds of the Queen Charlottes are described |
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McNutt, Nan The story of a Kwakiutl girl making her first button blanket. Includes a story, beautiful art and a teaching guide. Part of the Northwest Coast Indian Art Series. |
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Highway, Tomson (Cree). Ill. by Brian Deines Joe and Cody are brothers who narrowly escape a stampede of caribou (ateek). Set in northern Manitoba and told in both English and Cree, this book is exquisitely illustrated. (Caribou Song is the first book in a trilogy entitled Songs of the North Wind). |
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Jensen, Vickie Set in B.C, this is the story of how Nisga'a artist Norman Tait carves a modern totem pole. He says: "Like the elders, each pole is a teacher, a storyteller." Beautiful sepia photographs show Tait training his son, nephew and cousin in his art. |
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Joe, Donna Ch'askin the thunderbird helps the Sechelt people to settle and survive on the southern B.C. coast. This is the fourth in the "Legends of the Sechelt People" series. |
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Archibald, Jo-ann Aboriginal children across the country write about their heroes. Heroes selected include everyone from Bill Reid and Chief Dan George to Wesakaychak and "My Dad." |
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King, Thomas (Cherokee). Ill. by Johnny Wales Comical story and pictures tell the story of a lazy coyote who learns a lesson from the moon. Outrageous humour and unforgettable characters. Exceptional! |
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King, Thomas (Cherokee). Ill. by Johnny Wales Coyote's back, and he's stirring up trouble. Or is it Raven? Coyote can't stop admiring his "fine suit", but when Raven isn't impressed, he becomes dissatisfied. This hilarious new tale is matched with witty illustrations. |
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Pearson, Pearle and Jenny White Welcome to the Haida village of Skidegate, where each crest on the totem pole in the village tells a story. Beautiful pencil drawings show the crests on the totems. |
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Highway, Tomson (Cree). Ill. by Brian Deines Joe and Cody spend summers on the lakes of Northern Manitoba. Here they encounter many wildlife friends, but the dragonflies are their real friends. Transcendent art by Brian Deines. (Dragonfly Kites is the second book in the "Songs of the North Wind" trilogy. The first is Caribou Song.) |
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Waboose, Jan Bourdeau (Ojibwa). Ill. by C.J. Taylor A young Ojibwa girl is taken by her grandmother (in her grandmother's motorboat) on a magical night journey to Smooth Rock Island. Noko (Nokoomis) Grandmother builds a fire, puts on her moccasins, dances like a young girl and invites the child to join in the steps of her ancestors. This coming of age story is beautifully illustrated. |
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Delaronde, Deborah (Métis). Ill. by Gary Chartrand Set in the 1940s, this historical picture book features Flora, a young Métis girl whose grandmother helps her make a dress out of old flour sacks so she can go into town with her parents. |
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Adams, Dawn A Queen Charlotte Islands reader. All the life and creatures of the forest of the Queen Charlottes are described. |
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Adams, Dawn A Queen Charlotte Islands reader. All the life and creatures of the forest of the Queen Charlottes are described. |
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Mercredi, Morningstar
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Highway, Tomson Two little boys are ice fishing with their parents when something goes terribly wrong. It's up to Papa and Ootsie the dog to make sure everything turns out right. Text in both English and Cree. llustrated by Brian Deines. |
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Bruchac, Joseph (Abenaki). Ill. by Paul Morin Joseph Bruchac draws on his own childhood memories of his grandmother and her pet fox, and an old Abenaki greeting song, to create this story. Paul Morin's paintings mirror the warmth and strength in the relationsip between Grandma Bowman and Jamie. Even when Grandma Bowman leaves this world, Jamie is able to feel connected to her by singing a song she had passed on. |
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Silvey, Diane An excellent, honest and up-to-date history of the first people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Excellently researched, beautifully presented, with many photos and illustrations. |
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Bruchac, Joseph Sixteen stories from various nations and across North America which celebrate young women coming of age. In an afterword, Bruchac and Ross acknowledge the elders who passed these stories on to them. |
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Guest, Jacqueline (Métis) An exciting hockey story with lots of action on and off the rink. This is just one of Jacqueline Guest's many titles available in the James Lorimer Sports series. The author also has many other titles in this series and an excellent website. |
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Plain, Ferguson (Ojibwa) When a village is threatened by the bad magic of Kokoko, the Chief sends Nanabozhoo to teach him a lesson. |
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Erdrich, Louise (Ojibwa). Ill. by Jim LaMarche "Nature is both tough and fragile." A funny, magical and mysterious book about a young girl, her grandmother, and some rare pigeon eggs. |
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Ahenakew, Freda A traditional Cree story about a mouse who frees the sun from a trap. George Littlechild's illustrations vibrantly tell the story of this brave mouse |
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Slapin, Beverly A Checklist for Evaluating Children's Books for Anti-Indian Bias. |
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Paul-Dene, Simon A Six Nations legend interpreted through the art of Simon Paul-Dene. A story to help children re-connect with their spiritual connection to the earth. The winged creatures compete to see who can soar highest and sing the best song. |
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Wheeler, Bernelda (Métis). Ill. by David Beyer During a power failure, when his mom can't make bannock, a little boy hears the story of a beaver. |
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Schneider, Reisa This book about cultural survival came out of an art exhibition at the Richmond Art Gallery in BC. Two artists (including Littlechild) and two poets collaborate to celebrate the survival of First Nations and Jewish people and honour their ancestors |
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Smith, Cynthia Leitich "Take a walk in these Indian shoes." This collection of interrelated stories features Ray Halfmoon, a Seminole Cherokee boy who is being raised by Grandpa Halfmoon. Written with true humour. These two share adventure, laughter and loss from their daily lives in Chicago to a special fishing trip in Oklahoma. This author also has an exceptional website. |
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Wallace, Mary An Inuksuk is a stone structure that can communicate knowledge essential for survival to an arctic traveller. This award-winning book includes many photographs, a glossary, index and guides to Inuktitut words |
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Smith, Cynthia Leitich (Muscogee/Creek). Ill. by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu Jenna is a young girl who lives in the suburbs and is of Muscogee and Ojibwa descent. Warm watercolours show how this contemporary child gets help in making her "jingle" dress so she can dance in style at her first pow-wow. |
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White, Ellen A blend of original and traditional Salish stories by Ellen White, who lives in Nanaimo, B.C., and teaches students in the area. |
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White, Ellen A blend of traditional and aboriginal Salish stories from a renowned Coast Salish elder. |
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Guy W. Jones and Sally Moomaw.
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Campbell, Maria A poetic story which features a young girl, Ahsinee, and tells the legend of how humans gained the benefit of fire. |
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Silvey, Diane Little Bear says hurtful things to his friends Doe, Little Swallow, Raccoon and Dog. Grandfather Bear banishes him to an island until he is ready to search his heart for love, kindness and respect. |
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Cuthand, Beth (Cree) and Stan Cuthand (Cree). Ill. by Mary Longman (Salteaux) A little mud duck longs to be a beautiful Cree dancer but after joining one of the dances decides he is happier being his duck self. Absolutely lovely illustrations. |
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Johnson, E. Pauline New edition of the first story in E. Pauline Johnson's classic "Legends of Vancouver". She wrote about the loss of the traditional Salish way of life almost one hundred years ago, but the story still resonates today. |
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Van Camp, Richard (Dogrib). Ill. by George Littlechild (Cree) Two boys find a raven in the garage and are about to hurt him with hockey sticks until a mysterious stranger appears. He teaches them the story of the raven and a respect for nature in this contemporary story. |
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Dorris, Michael (Modoc) Set on a Bahamian island in 1492, Morning Girl is a 12-year-old Taino who goes out for a swim one morning and encounters a canoe of oddly dressed strangers. The story of Columbus' arrival in the New World. |
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Waboose, Jan Bourdeau (Ojibwa). Ill. by Karen Reczuch A series of three linked stories. An Ojibwa grandfather, Mishomis, and his young grandson, Noshen, travel in a canoe and encounter a loon in the morning, an eagle at midday and wolves at night. Award-winning illustrator Reczuch creates breathtakingly realistic illustrations. |
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Kusugak, Michael Arvaarluk (Inuit). Ill. by Vladyana Krykorka Michael Kusugak grew up in the Arctic Circle and this counting book features some of the animals of the North, as well as some words in Inuktitut. Beautifully illustrated. |
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Wright, Marion Roze. Ill. by Judy Hilgemann This story incorporates a wealth of factual knowledge including information on potlatches, Hamasta society and important mythological figures. This story follows three young aboriginal people through the four seasons of the year. |
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George, Dan "Wild rose whispers sweetness to the squirrel, a child loves everybody first." Powerful poetry and prose from a well-known and well-respected chief, who says "I am a chief, but my power to make war is gone, and the only weapon for me is speech." |
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Loewen, Iris A young Cree girl living in a big city with her mother is excited to hear they are going to see her Kokum (grandmother). As she packs for their weekend visit, she daydreams about her Kokum's life on a reserve and all she has learned from her. This is a touching, simple story about cultural and family relations. |
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Sterling, Shirley (Salish) Seepeetza (a.k.a. Martha Stone) is a twelve-year-old girl attending the Kalamak Indian Residential School in the late 1950's. Seepeetza's journal entries (based on the author's own experiences) describe the hardships and abuse that students were forced to endure. |
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Delaronde, Deborah L. (Métis). Ill. by Kieron J. Flamand When a little boy decides he wants "another" name, his Grandfather chooses Agaasi Wisualcodewinini (Little Métis) to honour both his mother's language and his father's traditions. |
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McLellan, Joseph A story within a story tells the origin of the Ojibwa hoop dance. Mishomis (grandfather) tells the story of how Kitchi Manitou gives Nanabosho the gift of tobacco |
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McLellan, Joseph The Ojibwa trickster and teacher Nanabosho transforms himself into a rabbit and steals fire to bring back to the people |
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Campbell, Maria
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Armstrong, Jeanette C. (Okanagan). Ill. by Barbara Marchand Neekna and Chemai are two little girls growing up in the Okanagan Valley before the coming of the white man. We learn from them about the seasonal life pattern of the Okanagan Indian People, in the interior of B.C. |
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Eyvindson, Peter. Ill. by Rhian Brynjolson Rebecca and Suzie help each other to have the courage to walk past a spooky house. |
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Adams, Dawn. Ill. by Arlene Erlandson Leslie invites us to a contemporary Haida Potlatch where she will wear her button blanket, dance and be given her Haida name. Part of the Queen Charlotte Islands Reading series. There is also a Teacher's Guide to this series. |
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Pelletier, Darrell W. (Métis) Every summer, Kokum's (grandmother's) reserve has a pow-wow. This will be Alfred's first pow-wow. One in a series of five books about family and community. This is book 4. |
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Bragg, Lynn. Ill. by Virgil Smoker Marchand An important and extremely relevant historical story of how salmon (In-Tee-Tee-Huh) were lost to the Arrow Lakes tribe when, under the "New Deal", the Grand Coulee Dam was built. Great grandmother Toopa must leave with only a few belongings hours before her entire village is flooded. |
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Joe, Donna This traditional story, illustrated by a Sechelt artist, tells how a respectful relationship between salmon and the Sechelt people came to be. |
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Tookoome, Simon Simon Tookoome's uncle was a shaman for the Inuit people near Baker Lake in the Northwest Territories. Tookoome himself becomes a hunter and, through his art, a healer. |
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BC Ministry of Education An essential resource to help teachers integrate accurate aboriginal content into the B.C. K-10 curriculum. This resource was written and designed to include the participation of aboriginal teachers, elders and other knowledgeable members in each school district and aboriginal community. Includes suggested book and video resources. |
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Waboose, Bruchac, Joseph (Abenaki) Based on a traditional Abenaki legend, this chilling story recasts one of the old stories as a novel set in the present. When Molly's parents vanish, Social Services turn her over to the care of a very scary great uncle. She feels trapped until she has vivid dreams about a "Skeleton Man" from a spooky old Mohawk tale. |
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Waboose, Jan Bourdeau (Ojibwa). Ill. by Brian Deines Two young sisters set off across the frozen North after dark to see the sky spirits - the Northern Lights' dance. Brian Deines' shimmering artwork is outstanding. |
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Spalding, Andrea After Solomon's favourite maple tree falls during a storm, his uncle helps him save its spirit by carving a traditional Tsimshian mask from a part of its trunk. Illustrated by Janet Wilson. |
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Bouchard, David "Your stories, songs and beating heart are truly yours and yours alone." A beautiful tribute to his Nokum (grandmother). Renowned Cree painter Allen Sapp's art richly complements David Bouchard's story of a young boy preparing for a powwow. |
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McNutt, Nan In the newest addition to the "Northwest Coast Indian Discovery" series, a young Coast Salish girl uses her spindle whorl to prepare wool for her uncle's wedding gift, a traditional robe. Following the story, children will find several activities, puzzles, and games about the art and culture of Northwest Coast Indians. |
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Taylor, C.J. Ojibwa/Chippewa tale. Iceman is old and tired. When he meets the stranger, New Dawn, he is eager to hear his message of "Spring Beauty. |
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Taylor, C.J.
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Littlechild, George
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Slapin, Beverly and Doris Seale Contains critical reviews of more than 100 children's books by and/or about First Nations people, a guide to evaluating books, a recommended bibliography and a resource section of Native publishers. |
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Sanderson, Esther (Cree) Maggie had two pairs of shoes - moccasins and patent leather. She must remember when and how to wear each pair. |
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Mosionier, Beatrice (Métis). Ill. by Rebecca Belmore The author of the classic novel "In Search of April Raintree" teams with a Vancouver visual artist to tell this story of an unusual friendship between a cat and a rat. They form a band and the rest is history. Told in rhyme. |
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Siska, Heather Smith "This book, illustrated with many photographs, depicts both the traditional and contemporary way of life of the Shuswap people of B.C. |
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Van Camp, Richard (Dogrib). Ill. by George Littlechild (Cree) Van Camp's people use dogs instead of horses but on a day when it is 40 below freezing in his hometown of Fort Smith in the Northwest Territories, he sets out to find out about horses (tlee-cho) or "big dogs." Cree artist George Littlechild's bold paintings convey the humour and imagination of Van Camp's story. |
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Ahenakew, Freda In English and Cree. Wisahkecahk gets a ride to the moon with the help of a crane - then falls to earth into a "muskeg" and gets covered in mud! Explains why crane's legs are so long |
